Sprengelia distichophylla

Sprengelia distichophylla
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Ericaceae
Genus:	Sprengelia
Species:	S. distichophylla
Binomial name
Sprengelia distichophylla Sm.[1]
Synonyms[1]
Sprengelia incarnata var. distichophylla Rodway

Sprengelia distichophylla is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to Tasmania. It is a tufted shrub that typically grows to a height of 51–76 mm (2.0–3.0 in) with leaves about 2 mm (0.079 in) long, arranged in two closely overlapping rows, with the bases sheathing the stem. The flowers are arranged singly in leaf axils and are white, about 5 mm (0.20 in) long and bell-shaped. Flowering occurs in summer.^[2][3][4]

This species was first formally described in 1903 by Leonard Rodway who gave it the name Sprengelia incarnata var. distichophylla in The Tasmanian Flora.^[5] In 1963, Winifred Curtis raised the variety to species status as Sprengelia distichophylla in The Student's Flora of Tasmania.^[6] The specific epithet (distichophylla) means "having leaves in two rows".^[7]

This epacris grows in exposed in alpine scrub on the western mountains of Tasmania.^[2]

References

1. "Sprengelia distichophylla". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
2. Jordan, Greg. "Sprengelia distichophylla". University of Tasmania. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
3. Curtis, Winifred M. "Sprengelia distichophylla". Alpine Garden Society. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
4. Rodway, Leonard (1903). The Tasmanian Flora. Hobart: Tasmanian Government Printer. p. 124. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
5. "Sprengelia incarnata var. distichophylla". APNI. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
6. "Sprengelia distichophylla". APNI. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
7. Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 185. ISBN 9780958034180.